Featured Sheffield knife. Bone or Ivory?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by J Dagger, Mar 25, 2020.

  1. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    AFAD8EB2-7CDE-4DBB-8743-B63265F9AAD6.jpeg 934144C5-201C-4F6D-AA3D-8A5A70A04C0B.jpeg B0541F2D-ABB3-4C4D-A032-7A9EBE877233.jpeg 126A86FD-697C-4041-8024-86CB51F2B64E.jpeg E9AAAAD4-CAA2-4659-8F95-2D6BB4D3F516.jpeg Neat looking knife here by George Clayton & Co. of Sheffield. I can find next to no output by them on google. Nice looking knife I think, despite the condition. Is this ivory or bone? Has that old ivory color and what I believe are the proper striation patterns. It’s quite long, what would it’s purpose be? Desert/cake knife?
     
  2. blooey

    blooey Well-Known Member

  3. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

  4. Couch Potato Wannabe

    Couch Potato Wannabe Well-Known Member

    There is a number of methods for testing for ivory. One you may hear about at some point in any antiques forum is the hot pin method. This runs the risk of damaging what you are testing, so check out the following link for more options and a breakdown of the hot pin test as well.
    https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/antiquesfyi/tips/damagedone/index.html
     
  5. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    True. Another vote for ivory. And silver? Any marks?
     
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  6. Cris Drugan ISA-AM

    Cris Drugan ISA-AM Active Member

    Appears to be Ivory to me also.
     
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  7. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    Looks like you can see the Schreger lines...
     
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  8. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Ivory for me too. No point in taking a hot pin to the poor thing. Fine steel wool and oil on the blade yes, hot pins no.
     
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  9. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    J Dagger likes this.
  10. Couch Potato Wannabe

    Couch Potato Wannabe Well-Known Member

  11. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    Sorry, I didn't click on it to check it out.
    Apologies.
     
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  12. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Schreger lines are only visible in cross sections of tusk. This has naturally been carved going along the length of the tusk, which has a grain of its own, but not called Schreger lines. Ivory cut the long way looks like this:

    bacchante 1 back.JPG
     
  13. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    So I live and learn........Thanks, @Bronwen!
     
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  14. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    I doubt the blade is silver, someone has been using it not for its intended purpose.
    Screwdriver, paint tin lever etc.

    Capture.PNG
     
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  15. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Poor thing. It needs a good oiling and some steel wool.
     
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  16. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    Thanks I found that and I think one other knife. No other comps.
     
  17. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    I think it’s likely silver (the collar and bottom cap) but it’s not marked. Those metal pieces are really nicely done either way. No marks that I’ve seen though.
     
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  18. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

  19. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    Great to know. It didn’t have zig zaggy pattern but I was pretty sure it was what I thought it was.
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  20. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    I’ll try that method thanks!
     
    Bronwen likes this.
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